New Ulm weekly review., 1887-10-05

John P. Rea was born Oct. 13. 1910, in Lower,
Oxford township, Chester county, Pa. His
father owned WOODEN factory, and he passed
his time there and attending school until Sep
tember, 1860. when he went to Piqua, Ohio,
where he taught school When the war broke
out he promptly enlisted and became member
OF Company 3, Eleventh Ohio infantry. He
served with this regiment four months and was
then commissioned as second lieutenant of
Company L First Ohio cavalry: promoted to
first lieutenant March IL. 1862. and in April of
the following year to the rank OF captain. and
was breveted major He served in the regiment
three years and four n oonths. and was absent
on sick leave. After returning from the war he
entered tue Wesleyan college. at Delaware Ohio.
and graduated 1 in the classical course
1866. he entered The office Of Hon.
o. J. Dickey OF Lancaster, Pa, as law student,
and was admitted to the bar there in August,
and in March, 1869, was appointed one of three
notaries public in Lancaster by Gov. Geary, but
April II, 1869. was appointed assessor of inter
district of Pennsylvania, which Office he held
until it was abolished by law in 1873. In 1869
he was married to Miss Emma Gould Of Ohio.
law in Lancaster until December. s75 when he
removed to Minneapolis. His COUSIN John A.
Rea, now Of Bismarck, was at that time actively
engaged In newspaper work " Kin In Minneapolis; and
dryx and Charles F. Hendryx, Judge Rea and
John A. Rea purchased the Tribune, and the sub
Ject OF ChlS SkeCCn became tne edlGOr-1n -Chler.
In May, 1876. controlling interest in theTrib-
une then morning paper. was purchased by
the PIONEER PRESS and converted into an even
ing paper. Judge Rea, minority stockholder,
continued as editor until Nav. 1877. when he
RESUMED THE PRACTICE OF LAW
and became member OF the firm Of Rea, Hooker
& Woolley. This firm was subsequently changed
and became Rea, Woollev 6, Kltchell, and subse-
Quently Rea, Kitchell & Shaw. In November,
1877 he elected judge of probate. and
served for four years with conspicuous ability
He continued his relationship, however, with the
law firm with which he was connected. This
firm had, probably, the largest practice of any
in the city. In April, 1886, Judge Koon re-
signed his seat the bench of the district court
OF this district, and in response to the very
erai wish of the Hennepin county bar Gov. Hub
bard appointed Judge Rea. He now adorns that
position of honor and responsibility. Judge Rca
has always been prominent in the Grand Army
He is member and past commander OF George
N. Morgan post and his voice is always heard
on any occasion where the interests of the old
soldier are involved. He is forcible public
speaker, infusing pathos and power into his
utterances He is thorough going Republican,
and has always taken an active interest in poll
tics, but his is not offensive partisanship, and
the necessity of excluding political matters
from the realm of the G. A. r. is with him car
dinal principle. He has already held the posi-
tion Ut senior vice commander of the national
organization. Personally he is one Of the most
genial of men, and he is the last man in The
world to injure anothers feelings in any way.
The result is. he has host of friends to rejoice
over his latest and greatest honor and no enc
mics to lament the event.